Vietnam, Iceland look for multifaceted bilateral cooperation

Updated: 11:23’ - 05/11/2015

President Truong Tan Sang and his Icelandic counterpart Olafur Ragnar Grimsson shared the wish for stronger economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on November 4.

President Truong Tan Sang and Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson review the guard of honour at the President Palace in Hanoi__Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA

Sang said the Icelandic President’s state-level visit would create a new framework for cooperation between Vietnam and Iceland, and recommended the increase of exchanges and contacts at all levels.

He suggested the two sides assist their enterprises in seeking business opportunities and connectivity, especially in fields where Iceland has the upper hand and Vietnam has demand, such as fishing, processing of aquatic products, and renewable energy.

Expressing his gratitude to Iceland and the European Free Trade Association for recognizing Vietnam as a market economy, President Sang wished that Iceland speed up negotiations of a free trade agreement between the two countries so as to facilitate business of their enterprises in each other’s market.

The two countries should study the possibility of negotiating and signing cooperation agreements on education and training, as well as exchanging experience on social welfare, gender equality, and the care for children and people with disabilities, Sang proposed.

He hoped the Icelandic Government would continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Iceland to integrate into the host country and play the role as a bridge to boost the friendship between the two countries.

President Truong Tan Sang receives Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on his official visit to Vietnam__Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA

For his part, President Grimsson said his visit aimed to expand cooperation with Vietnam in many fields, especially sustainable fishery, the exploitation and use of clean energy, and academic exchanges between universities.

Iceland is willing to help Vietnam develop renewable energy as a way to respond to climate change and for the sake of the environment, Grimsson said.

He agreed to accelerate the signing of free trade agreements between Vietnam and the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and Iceland as early as possible.

After their talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of geothermal energy between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an MoU on cooperation between the Vietnam National University of Hanoi and Reykjavík University.- (VNS/VLLF)